Cabinet door hinge



Dec. 1. 1953 s. E. WEINTHAL ETAL K 2,661,085

`CABNET DOOR HINGE Filed Jan. 6, 1950 a vw,

M'M9MAJ art. rvnot adaptable for doorv structures which are constructed from sheet metal.

Patented Dec. 1, 1953 getrost CABINET DOOR YHINGE Stanley E. Weinthal, Pittsburgh, and Stanley A.

f Flowers and Leonard J. Flowers, Oakmont, Pa., assignors to Walters Manufacturing Company, Oakmont, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,202v

2 claims. (01.189446) This invention relates to a cabinet door and hinge,and, more particularly, to a cabinet door I constructed of sheet metal and hinge therefor.

It is frequently necessary to place cabinets side-by-side, and in such case, it is desirable to have doors on the cabinets which will not swing beyond the edge of the cabinet in the opening movement of the door.

Where the portion of the door adjacent its hinge connection moves beyond the edge of the door in the opening movement thereof, the projecting portion of the 'door in openposition will interfere with the opening movement of the door on an adjacent cabinet. "From the standpoint of appearance, it is also desirable that the hinge providing a L pivotalsupport for the door be concealed. Hinges which are concealed and which will not swing a portion of the door beyond the edge of the cabinet in vopening movement are known .in the However, known types of such hinges are The construction of thedoor from sheet metal is of course desirable in that such doors may be manufactured at considerably Yless cost than other types of doors.

Accordingly, this invention has as one of its objects the provision of a concealed hinge which is particularly adaptable for use ony doors constructed of sheet metal.

"LA further object of this invention is to provide a sheet metal door having a partial enclosure at one Vedge thereof together with a novel form of concealed hinge including a hinge part which is mountable entirely in the space at the edge of the door provided by such enclosure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an interlocking door and hinge Astructure 'jvide a novel form of hinge bracket for a sheet metal door which is effective to automatically locate a predetermined position of'pivotr axis vvwhen the hinge bracket is placed in its mounting position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Vwill be apparent from the following description.

Inv the drawings, there is shown a preferred Vembodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a sheet metal" cabinet and door provided with a hinge constructed yin 4accordance with the principles 4Qof this invention, the Showing of Fig. 1 111155- Z trating the door fragmentarily in its full open position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View of the cooperating hingeparts in the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 1, the structure of the door to which such hinge parts are connected being illustrated in a fragmentary and diagrammatic manner;

Fig. 3 is a group View illustrating the structure of the hinge part connected to the door in top, front, and side elevation;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the hingeV part which is secured to the cabinet;

Fig. 5 .is a front elevational view of the hinge part shown in Fig. 6; and.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VI-VI of Fig. 1, the solid lines I by at least a pair of hinges along one vertical edge 4 of the cabinet, only one of such hinges being illustratedand such hinge being designated as a whole by the numeral 5. The hinge 5 comprises hinge parts 5 and 1 respectively secured to the door 3 and cabinet I in a manner to be described.

The cabinet I and door 3 are preferably constructed entirely of sheet metal and have their edge portions specially constructed for the hinge parts 6 and 'I which are secured thereto. For

the purposes of this invention, it will be sufficient to point out that the cabinet I has a side wall 8 with a front margin 9 defining one edge Vof the opening 2. The margin 8 has a ange I0 extending inwardly at right angles to vthe margin 9. The inner end of the flange I is doubled back on itself as at I I to reinforce the `flange I0.

The door Sis formed with a flat sheet metal panel I2 at the front thereof, and a curved flange I3 along onevertical edge of the panel I2, and

. extending inwardly therefrom toward the cabinet I. The curved ange I3 has the shape of a quarter round, and the door 3 thus has a thickv ness equal to the radius of the quarter round I3. vA reinforcing strip I4 extends inwardly from the outer edge I5 of the door 3 a distance equal V to theradius of the lquarter round, and has a part I8 doubled back on itself for reinforcing purposes. It will be noted that the outer edge I5 of the door is flush with the side wall 8 of the cabinet when the door is in its closed position. In addition, it will be noted that the formation of the curved flange I3 in the shape of a quarter round imparts an improved and streamlined appearance to the cabinet which is particularly pronounced when the door 3 is in a closed position, With the door 3 in a closed position, the quarter round shape of the ange I3 makes the door appear more a part of the cabinet structure than just a closure therefor.

Referring now to the structure of the hinge 5, it will be noted that the hinge part 1 is stationary and is constructed entirely of a strip of sheet metal which is bent to provide a pair of integrally l connected angles IB and I9. The inner angle. I8 has its inner faces placed in abutting engagement with the outer faces of the sheet metal parts 9 and I 8 and is secured thereto as by welding. The outer angle I9 provides a strip 20 spaced from and parallel to the marginal strip 9 of the cabinet I and has its outer end looped as at 2I to provide a cylindrical opening 22 for a pivot pin in a man ner-to be described.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the pivot part 6 is movable and is constructed entirely of sheet metal and has its center portion 23 formed to provide a cylindrical opening 24. The end portions 25 and 26 of the strip are placed in abutting relation and extend outwardly in a common direction from the center portion 23. The terminals 21 and 28 of the end portions 25 and 26 respectively are bent at right angles to the end portions 25 and 2B so that they diverge and lie in a common plane. A pivot pin 29 has a'press fit within the opening 24 of the hinge part 6 and its lower end 30 extends downwardly below the lower edge of the pivot pin 6 fora purpose to be described. The press nt of the pin 29 in the opening 24 is effective to prevent rotation and axial movement of the pin 29 with respect to the hinge part, but the pin 29 is provided with a head 3l for limiting downward movement of the pin 29 when it is forced into the opening 24.

The hinge part 6 is mounted in position by placing .the back surfaces 33 of the legs 21 and 28 against the inner surfaceof the strip I4 and welding it in position. When the strip I4 has an inwardly turned lip I5 as shown in Fig. 6, the back surface 33 of the leg 28 will kabut against the lip I6 as shown in Fig. 6. 1 The distance across the legs 2? and 28 is made the same as the width of the strip I4 so that the pivot axis `of the door will be automatically located when the hinge part 6 is secured in position as by welding. The distance across the legs 21 and 28 is so proportioned that the end 35 of the leg 21 will move into abutting engagement with the inner surface of the curved flange I3 when the end36 of the leg 28 is flush with the inner edge 31 of the reinforcingstrip I4. By constructing the hinge part 6 in this manner, it is merely necessary to place it in position with its edge 35 in abutting engagement with the inner surface of the iiange I3 and with the back surfaces 33 engaged with the inner surface of the strip I4 and then weld it to the strip I4 to prevent its movement out of this position.

with the hinge parts sand 1 secured in position as described above, a pivot connection of the door 3 `may be readily made to the cabinet I. This connection'is made by holding the door almost in its closed position and moving it so that the part 28 extends into the space defined by the quarter round I3 and strip I4, this space having a substantially segmental shape. When the axis of the opening 22 in the end 2I of the strap 20 is aligned with the axis of the pivot pin 29, the pivotal connection of the door 3 to the cabinet I may be made by dropping the door downwardly to move the pivot pin 29 into cylindrical opening 22. The door will move downwardly until the lower edge 49 of the strip forming the hinge part t abuts against the upper edge 4I of the strip forming the hinge part 1. The engagement of the pin 2SY and the opening 22 will then provide a pivotal connection by which a door may be swung to and from a closed position with respect to the cabinet I.

In order that the hinge strap 20 will not interf ere with this opening movement, a notch 42 is cut in the strip I4. The notch 42 has a lower edge 49, an upper edge 44, and an inner edge 45. The depth of the notch 42 is so selected that the inner edge 45 will move into abutting `engagement with the strap 20 to limit opening movement of the door with respect to the cabinet. The parts are so constructed that this abutting engagement takes pla-ce when the door is moved to an open position preferably about 115 from its fullyclosed position, but which may be any selected angle of from about to about 135 fromthe fully closed position, As soon as the door moves substantially out of its closed position,the edges 43 and 44 of the notch 42 move to positions in whichthey straddle Athe upper and lower edges ofthe metal strip forming the angle I 9. This straddling action provides an interlock between the strip I4 and the angle I9 which is effective to prevent axial movement of the,.door with respect to its pivot axis when it is in an open position. In this manner, the door, may begmoved axially to disengage the hinge partsonlyWhen the door is in a predetermined position, namely, a substantially closed position. From the foregoing, it will be noted that the provision of the notch 42 and the manner in which it cooperates with the angle I9 is eifective to both limit opening movement of the door and to prevent disengagement of the door with respect to the cabinet I when the door is in an open position. f

The location `of the pivot axis as determined by the mounting ofthe hinge par-t 6 is in a sense critical to the door of `this invention. The location of the pivot axis is so arranged thatno part of the do-orwill move beyond the plane of the side wall 9 during its opening `movement andso that a door having an edge with the shape of a quarter round may be employed. The pivot axis is of course parallel to the axis of thequarter round I3 and is located adjacent ,the inner lsurface of the ange I3 and spaced from theiaxis o the quarter round. Inaddition, vthe pivot axis 41 intersects with a radius. 48 of the quarter. round I3, and the radius 48 substantially bisects the angle formed by the terminal radii of the sectorial shape defined bythe quarter round. By locating the pivot axis 41 so as .tontersect the bisecting radius 48, the terminal points I5 and 49 of the flange I3 will move into positions ush with the plane of the yside wall 8 as the door is moved .through an angle of 90 between its closed and opened positions. VIn other words, in the closed position of the door, the terminal end I5 of the Iiange I3 is nush withtheside wall 8, and in the open position, the terminal edge 49 of the ange I3 and the panel I2 will belocated in a plane common vto the plane of the side wall 8. If vthe radius 48 and axis 41 were moved clockwise from'the position shown in Fig.j6, then the point 49 would extend beyond thev edge of .the side wall 8. On the other hand, if the radius 48 and axis 41 were moved counter-clockwise from the position illustrated in Fig. 6, then the point i and strip'I4-wouldhave to be spaced a greater disgap/between the strip|4 and` cabinet 9 which `would be undesirable from the standpoint ofthe appearance of the completed structure. A location of the pivot axis 48 substantially as illustrated in Fig. 6 is essential in order that a door having a curved flange with a shape of a quarter round may be employed, in order that there will not be a noticeable gap between the strip I4 and the cabinet 9, and in order that the edges 43 and 44 of the notch 42 will straddle the upper edge of the strip I4 when the door is moved a slight amount out of its fully closed position, it being noted at this point that the initial straddling action takes place with respect to the portion of the angle I9 which extends perpendicularly to the marginal portion 9 of the cabinet I.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the hinge of this invention is particularly adapted for a door constructed entirely of sheet metal and having a curved flange in the shape of a quarter round at its side edge. Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the operative parts 6 and l of the hinge are located entirely within the sectorial area defined by the curved flange I3 and its terminal radii. In this manner, there is provided a concealed hinge by which the door may be pivotally moved to and from its opened and closed positions, and in so moving, no part of the door is moved beyond the plane of the side wall 8 thereby enabling cabinets to be placed side-byside without the opening movement of one door interfering with the opening movement 'of another door.

Particular attention is also directed to the fact that the structure of the hinge part 6 facilitates its mounting on the reinforcing strip I 4, and that the structure of the legs 21 and 28 with respect to the ends 35 and 36 automatically locates the pivot axis 'of the door in the mounting of such hinge parts. Attention is also again directed to the interlocking action provided by the provision of the notch 42 in the strip I4 for preventing undesired disengagement of the door from the cabinet I when in an open position and for limiting the movement of the door beyond a predetermined open position.

Although the curved edge flange I3 has been described as having the Vshape of a quarter round, and the terminal points I5 and 49 of the flange I3 have been shown as being spaced approximately 90 apart, it will be understood that the shape or curvature of the flange I3 may be modified and the points I5 and 49 may be spaced apart an angle greater or less than 90. More specically, the curved flange I3 need not have the exact shape of a quarter round, but may have a flatter curvature or a composite curvature with portions having different radii of curvature. In addition, .the pivot axis 41 need not be exactly located on a line bisecting the angle defined by the flange terminal points I5 and 49, but may be positioned off the line 48 Within reasonable limits.

While we have illustrated and described one speciflcf embodiment of our invention, it wil-I be understood that thisis. merely by way of illustration, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the contemplation of our invention'and under the scope of the following claims. 1 A

l. A sheet metal j door and hinge structure comprising a sheet metal panel having a side edge curved in the shape of a quarter-round with a flange parallel'to said panel and projectinginwardly from the outer edge of the quarterround and terminating along a line adjacent the axis of said quarter-round, and hinge means comprising a pivot pin positioned substantially centrally of the inner and outer edges of said quarter-round and adjacent the inner surface thereof with its axis parallel thereto, stationary and movable hinge parts positioned in vertically spaced relation and detachably connected by said pin, one of said hinge parts having a permanent connection with said pin and the other having a sliding connection therewith providing for assembly and disassembly of said hinge parts upon movement of said hinge parts relative to each other in a vertical direction along the axis of said pin, a mounting bracket for said movable hinge part comprising a base member secured to the inner surface of said door flange and having a supporting arm extending outwardly therefrom and connected with said movable hinge part, and a mounting bracket for said stationary hinge part comprising an angle having its apex positioned inwardly of the inner edge of said quarter-round with one arm extending parallel to the door panel anda connection at its outer end to said stationary hinge part and its other arm extending normal to said door panel and spaced a slight distance from the inner edge of said door flange when the door is in a closed position, said door ange having a slot in its said inner edge in which said angle is received upon movement of the door a small distance out of its closed position whereby hinge part disengaging movement of the door is prevented except when the door is in a substantially closed position.

2. A sheet metal door and hinge structure comprising a sheet metal panel having a marginal flange along one vertical edge thereof with an inwardly turned lip parallel to said panel, and hinge means comprising a pivot pin positioned in the space between said lip and panel lying beyond the inner edge of said lip, the pivot axis of said pin being parallel to the said inner lip edge, stationary and movable hinge parts positionedin vertically spaced relation and detachably connected by said pin, one of said hinge parts having a permanent connection with said pin and the other having a sliding connection therewith providing for assembly and disassembly of said hinge parts upon movement of said hinge parts relative to each other in a vertical direction along the axis of said pin, a mounting bracket for said movable hinge part comprising a base member secured to the inner surface of said lip and having a supporting arm extending outwardly therefrom and connected with said movable hinge part, and a mounting bracket for said stationary hinge part comprising a supporting member connected with said stationary hinge part and extending inwardly therefrom with respect to the door for connection to a supporting structure, the inwardly extending portion of said supporting member being clear of and spaced vfrom the nnerledge of `said lip when the door is Ain aJ closed position, sadflp han/'ing a `slot in tsfseid inner edge in which said supporting member is received upon movement of the door a, small distance out of its closed position whereby hinge part disengaging movement of the door is prevented except when the door is in a substantially closed position.

Refereees cited in vtlie me of Auns; patent UNITED 'STATES PAIENTS' Number Name Date Jensen Apr. 19, 1927 Wasmuth e Dec. 16, 1930 Teller 'et al. 1 Feb. 27, 1934 Teller et al. May 29, 1934 Moecker 1 Jan. 29, 1935 Bennett Apr. 19, 1938 Klute Mar. 5, 1940 Anderson -Oct. 15, 1940 lHearth May 18, 1943 

